Concession ordering system for drive-in theaters



Sept; 7, 1954 CONCESSION ORDERING SYSTEM FOR DRIVE-IN THEATERS Filed Jan. 9,

A. B. WILSON 3 Sheets-Sheet l sm-AL PANEL ATTORNEY5 A. B. WILSON Sept. 7, 1954 CONCESSION ORDERING SYSTEM FOR DRIVE -IN THEATERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1951 Sept. 7, 1954 A. B. WILSON 2,683,657

CONCESSION ORDERING SYSTEM FOR DRIVE-IN THEATERS Filed Jan. 9, 1951 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FE :w r u: 1: iii] I J 1 77/ l/ ,4 9 83 66 9a 59 if a I l" //d 50 6 m9 7:57;

INVENTOR i fZZen-B. 71 225011 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 7, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONCESSION ORDERING SYSTEM FOR DRIVE-IN THEATERS Allen B. Wilson, Galena Park, Tex. Application January 9, 1951, Serial No. 205,095

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to drive-in sound systems and more particularly a signaling circuit combined with a sound system wherein the individual car speakers may be employed for individual intercommunication with a concession booth operator.

The conventional type of drive-in theater sound system provides individual loud speakers for each customers car and this invention provides means whereby the occupants of each car may effect a signal to appear on a central panel visible to the concessionaire with said signal being held without interruption of the program, broadcast through the car speaker until the concession operator is ready to accept such order which he will do by placing the signaled car speaker in-circuit with his speaker for individual communication with the car occupants. This system makes 0rdering from each car an easy and simple operation individualized so as not to annoy other customers of the theater. It allows the public address system to function in its normal manner except for the individual speaker being used for intercommunication which then is automatically switched back into communication with the sound track circuit on completion of the order.

Therefore it is among the objects of this invention to provide a system for using a speaker both for sound transmission from a central point and for two-way conversation between a customer and a concession stand operator.

A further object is to provide a speaker circuit connected with an outdoor theater sound distribution system for placing individualized orders for refreshments to be delivered to a car. This is accomplished by providing a panel in miniature at the concesssion booth having a signal light and plug receiving jack for each car stall connected with a speaker through a circuit interconnecting means capable of automatically connect I ing the car stall speaker for intercommunication with the booth speaker amplifying circuit.

A still further object is to provide an intercommunication system for use in conjunction with a plurality of remotely located speakers wherein the original signal is originated at one of the remote speakers.

Another object is to provide a switch mechanism capable of establishing a held signal visible in a concession booth with means for intercom necting a remote speaker of a theater amplifying system with a speaker in said booth for establishing two-way communication between the booth and signaling car.

Still another object is to provide an automatic signal disconnecting means for use with an outdoor theater type of sound broadcasting system.

With the above and other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts in the different views:

Figure 1 is a schematic showing of a drive-in theater car parking arrangement including the circuit of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side sectional view of an individual t car speaker unit in operating position.

Figure 3 is a wiring diagram showing the present invention in conjunction with a conventional drive-in theater speaker circuit.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a speaker unit hooked on a supporting post in an inoperative position.

Figure 5 is a, detail changing switch.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the same switch partially fragmentated.

Figure '7 is a partial view of the switch hinge.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view of the speaker signal disconnecting switch.

Referring now in detail to the various parts as shown in the figures of the drawings numeral l0 illustrates a panel generally as being located in a concession booth H of a drive-in theater. The theater is provided with rows of car stalls l2 adapted to receive the cars of customers as at [3. Forwardly of the stalls I2 is located a conventional picture screen I 4 spaced from a picture and-sound projector l5.

Disposed adjacent each car stall i2 are provided posts I6 of suitable height and adapted to support an individual car speaker unit ll hooked thereon as best illustrated in Figure 4 when not in use. Each of the speaker units i1 is formed with a suitable housing I8 on which is usually mounted a hook I9 adapted to fit in a hooked poplan view of the circuit sition over the car door glass 20 when the unit is placed in the car l3 for operation. The speakers I! are electrically connected by a flexible cable 2| with the sound circuit 22 placed in a distribution cable system 23 that extends from the pro.- J'ector l5 to each post l6 where suitable plug-in facilities (not shown) may be provided. The coin cession booth II is customarily placed near the rear of the theater so that the concessionaire can fill orders for refreshments for delivery to the cars I3 by his helpers or car hops as inconspicuously as possible. Prior to this time it has been very difiicult to signal for a desired order without annoyance to adjacent patrons of the theater.

In the present system I provide the panel board I!) located in the concession booth II formed as a miniature of the theater grounds with a sig nal light 24 and a plug-in jack hole 25 (Figure 3) numbered and diagrammatically indicated for each car stall 12. The panel 10 is provided with a bus bar 26 from which a connection 21 to each respective signal light is provided as at 28 shown schematically for purposes of simplicity of illustration. The bus bar 26 is in turn connected to a suitable rectifier 29 by a conductor 30. The rectifier 29 is connected into the circuit of this invention indicated generally by the numeral 3| which is interconnected with the sound rojector by cable 32 and with the individual speakers ll through cable system 23 as hereinafter explained.

The circuit 3! is provided with a suitable transformer 33 connected to a conventional electric distribution system as a source S of electrical supply. On the secondary side 34 of transformer 33 the rectifier 29 of conventional design is connected in order to provide direct current of suit able potential for operation of the equipment as hereinafter discussed. Obviously in case a suitable supply of direct current is available from the projecting system, transformer 33 and rectifier 29 may be eliminated.

Connected to source S by conductors 35 and 36 is a conventional amplifier 3'! preferably placed in the booth H under control of the concessionaire. Associated with the amplifier 31 is a booth speaker 38 adapted to form an amplifier-speaker unit for use in communicating with a customer. In circuit with the amplifier-speaker unit is a suitable cut-over switch 39 adapted to alternately connect speaker 38 for listen-talk operation as hereinafter explained. Cut-over switch 39 is formed with a plurality of radially disposed contacts fill, 4!, 42, 43, 4Q, 45, lt and ll between selected pairs of which parallel members 58, 49, i! and 5! are adapted to engage to effect switching of the unit to listen-talk position as desired. Contacts ill and 42 are connected to the input side of amplifier 3'! by a pair of conductors 52 and 53. The output side of amplifier 3? is connected to contacts 15 and d6 by leads 54 and 55 respectively. The speaker 38 is connected to contacts 4% and ill by conductors 56 and 57 respectively. Contact 43 is connected to the grounded side of the sound system by a lead 58 connected to a conductor 59 that extends between rectifier 29 and wire 60 connected to the ground side of the sound unit 62. Sound wire 60 is grounded at 64 and constitutes one side of the sound circuit electrically connecting the sound unit 62 to coil 63 of the car speaker unit ll. Contact at is connected by a flexible conductor 54 through a portable plug 65 adapted for insertion in hole 25 formed in the panel board representative of any particular car stall.

Plug 65 is formed with an insulated handle portion 56, a plunger 6'! extending therefrom and a metal contact ring 68 secured to the forward part of the handle and disposed concentrically relative to the plunger. Ring 33 is electrically connected to conductor 64 through handle 63 to provide a circuit connecting means therethrough. Surrounding hole 25 is a second metal ring 69 engageable by contact ring 68 on insertion of the plug 55 into hole 25. The second ring 69 is electrically connected to one side of the signal light 24 by a conductor Hi. The opposite side of light 24 is connected to bus bar contact 2% through a jack switch H operative by a plunger 61. Switch "H is formed with an inwardly arched flexible blade 12 preferably formed as a spring which normally engages across a pair of contacts '53 and M disposed in aligned spaced relationship longitudinally of the blade and connected in circuit with a resistor 75. One side of the resistor 15 i connected in the light circuit as at 16 so that engagement of blade 12 with contact M will place the resistor in series with the light 24 and engagement of said blade across contacts 73 and M will cause the resistor to be shorted out of the circuit.

The preferred form of the arched blade (2 is that of a metal spring fixed at one end to one side of the hole 25 of the panel with the other end extending across and engageable with contacts l3 and it with an intermediate portion ll of the blade being exposed for contact therewith by plunger 6'! on its insertion through the hole. This construction provides for movement of the blade 72 by insertion of the plug plunger 61 through hole 25 to first disengage the blade 12 from contact 73 so as to place resistor '35 in series circuit with the signal light 24 and then on further insertion of plunger 6'? to efiect complete disengagement of blade 12 from both of the contacts so that signal light 24 will be disconnected and caused to go out. A pressure plunger 18 is disposed in back of panel IQ adjacent each hole 25 for engagement with the plug plunger 61 for releasably holding it in an inserted position.

Conductor l0 and the side of the signal light 24 opposite from rectifier 29 are connected to a common conductor l9 and are connected into the speaker circuit through a control switch 89 provided in or attached to each car speaker unit housing 18. The control switch asbest illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 is formed with a fixed base 8i having an upright 82 disposed at one end, and an arm 83 pivotally connected at one end 84 to the upright by a horizontally disposed pin 35 and normally held horizontal as shown in dotted lines under urge of a spring M5. The arm 83 is formed with a pair of magnetically sensitive side portions or contacts 86 and Si spaced apart at each side of an aperture 88 carried by arm 83 at the free end thereof forwardly of aperture 88 is a cross pin 89. Rockably mounted on the cross pin 89 as a hinged extension of arm 83 is a rectangular shaped flap mem ber 90. Flap 90 is formed with an underslung stop member 9| disposed in parallel relationship therewith with the protruding end engageable under the ends of portions 86 and 8'1 of arm 83 that acts to restrict the flap to upward hinged movement relative to the arm. Secured at one end 92 to the upright 82 by suitable rivet means 93 and disposed under arm 83 is a spring member 94. Mounted for movement with spring 94 is a contactor 95 which may also be magnetically sensitive and is adapted for electrical connection with conductor 79 by a connecting lead 96 extending therefrom. Contactor 95 is secured to the under side of spring 94- and insulated therefrom by an insulating pad 91 fixed therebetween.

Mounted on base ill in engageable relation with arm 83 and contactor 95 is an elongated electromagnetic contact unit 98 having an energizing coil 99 connected in serie with contact 98 by a conductor m0 leading therefrom. Contactor unit 98 is preferably mounted on an angular mount means IOI carried by the base 8| and adapted to provide for aligned engagement with the movable contactor 95 as well as members 86 and. 81 on energization of coil 99 with said coil having sufiicient holding strength to overcome the urge of springs 94 and I46 to hold the contacts in closed relationship on completion of the circuit. Completion or closure of the circuit is effected on downward movement of contactor 95 by pressure exerted thereon through a push button rod I02 positioned to extend exteriorly of the speaker housing I8 (Figures 2 and 4) for access thereto by a customer desiring to place an order.

Coil 99 is connected through conductor I to the grounded side 60 of the sound unit 62 through a push switch I03 positioned in the top of the support post I5, the details of which are best illustrated in Figure 8. Switch I03 is enclosed in a cap closure II I secured to the top of post It by any suitable means and is provided with an upwardly extending depressible member I04 that is engageable by an arm H2 or like means carried by the speaker housing I8 and angularly protruding therefrom. Member I04 is preferably formed of insulating material and is provided with a pair of conducting members I05 and I06 horizontally disposed with spaced ends thereof engageable with aligned spaced inner contacts I0! and I08 and outer contacts I00 and H0 respectively to close the signal circuit through conductor 00 as hereinafter explained. Member i 04 is held in a normally protruding position by a compression spring member II3 secured to the bottom of enclosure I II by suitable securing means as screw bolt II4.

Base 8| is also formed with a pair of upstanding ears IIB spaced to the left of upright 82 that are spaced apart and adapted to rockably support a second rockable member ill on suitable pivot pins H8 carried by the ears and extended through the member at oppositely spaced points. Member II! is formed with an inner end H9 oppositely disposed from an outer end I20 with each of said ends movable in sep arate arcs. The two ends H9 and I 20 are angularly disposed relative to each other and are adapted for limited rocking travel in their respective arcs with end I9 disposed above the base 8I engageable with the end of flap 90 and the other end I20 disposed adjacent the end of base 8|.

The inner end H9 is proportioned in length so that its disengagement with hinge 90 is limited so that on pivotal movement or" arm 83 flap 90 will rock arm II! to a vertical position and then pass by end II9 prior to completion of the travel of flap 90. This rocking movement of arm 83 is under the urge of either of springs 94 and I46 and is efiected on breaking of the circuit to coil 99 with rod I02 in a retracted position. Flap 90 being hinged at 89 is adapted to hinge and ride by end II9 on downward movement of arm 83 on energization of coil 99.

The opposite end I20 of rockable member II? is formed with a vertically extending aperture I2I in which a double contactor member IE2 is slidably or loosely mounted for movement therewith. Contactor member I22 formed of magnetically sensitive material is electrically insulated from the member I IT by a grommet type of insulator I23 and is electrically connected in circuit with the speaker coil 63 through a fiexible tap lead I24 extending therefrom. The oppositely disposed ends of contactor member I22 are formed with contact races I25 and I26 disposed at the top and bottom thereof respectively.

Carried by base 8| between the pivot line of rockable member II1 represented by the axis of pin means I I8 and vertical 82 is a mount I21 to which is anchored one end of a tension spring I28 at a point elevated above base 8I as at I30. The opposite end of spring I28 is secured to the end I20 of rockable member I I! at an eye I29 carried thereby. The elevation of point I30 is suflicient relative to the axis of pins I I8 to effect toggled rocking of member II! on its being bumped past its center of travel by hinge under urge of spring 94 or spring I46.

Spaced under end I20 for engagement with bottom contact face I26 on downward movement of the end is a fixed contact I3I connected in circuit with a solenoid coil I32. Adapted for motivation by coil I32 for engagement with a contact I39 spaced therefrom is a movable contactor I 34. Movable contactor I34 is electrically connected with the grounded side of the sound system line 60 by a connecting lea-d I35. Lead I35 is shown tapped ahead of switch I03 at I36 to effect shunt circuit operation of the signaling means as hereinafter explained.

Spaced above contact I3I is a magnetic contact I3'I' provided with an energizing coil I38 connected at one side with a fixed contact I39 aligned for engagement by movable contactor I34. The other side of coil I38 is connected in circuit with common conductor 19 by lead I40 which provides for energization of coil I38 through rectifier 29 on closure of contactor I 34 with contact I39.

Tapped ahead of coil I38 is a by-pass conductor I4I connecting lead I40 to one side of solenoid coil I32. The opposite or ungrounded side I42 of the speaker circuit extending from the sound unit 62 is connected to contact I31. The ungrounded or corresponding side of the speaker coil 53 is electrically connected to the movable contact I22 through flexible lead I24. The opposite side of the speaker coil 63 is connected to the contact I0! of switch I03 by conductor I43 for closure of the speaker circuit and placing the system in operation suitable for signaling the concession operator on release of pressure from button member I04 on movement 01' the speaker unit into the customers car as illustrated in Figure 2.

Mounted in each of the speaker housing units is a conventional type of volume control I45 available for use by the customer enabling him to control the volume of sound desired either from the sound track or when listening to the concessionaires acknowledgment of his order.

Operation of the present system starts from the time that a customer of the theater parks his car 13 and removes the speaker housing I8 from its post I6. Removal of the housing I8 allows switch I03 to close so as to place the sound and signaling circuits in operative condition as shown in Figure 3.

On deciding to place an order to the concessionaire the customer will press button I02 forcing contactor into engagement with contact unit 98 which closes the signal circuit. Closure of the signal circuit lights signal light 24 and energizes coil 99 so that the light will remain lighted on panel [0 until disconnected by acceptance of the order or until the customer replaces the housing I8 back on post l6 and thereby opens switch I03. This stay-on characteristic of the present system is a highly desirable feature in that it provides the management with a double check as to the number of orders remaining unfilled at any one time and gives a check on speakers improperly replaced, indicated by no response to the concessionaires answer to the signal.

It is to be noted that the speaker I'I remains operatively connected through both switches I03 and 80 allowing the customer to listen to the program being presented over the sound system until the concessionaire answers the signal.

When the concessionaire is ready to take the signaling customers order he inserts plug 55 into the hole 25 associated with light 26. The plunger 61 of the plug engages blade 12 and on bending thereof to open position opens the signal circuit. This puts out light 24 and tie-energizes coil 99 allowing switch arm 83 to move upwardly with hinge 90 in its extended position engaging end H9 of arm Hi to efiect toggled movement of contactor I22 into engagement with contact I3I. The effect or" this switching operation is to take the speaker I'I off the picture sound circuit and connect it to common conductor I9 which in turn is connected to the panel contact 69 by lead 10. Upon complete insertion of the plug 65 contact ring 63 carried thereby contacts the second ring 99 carried by panel 10 to connect the speaker coil 63 with the intercommunication cutover switch 39.

With the switch members 50 and positioned to connect with the out side of the amplifier 37 as shown in Figure 3 the .concessionaires voice is communicated from the booth speaker 38 to the car speaker I! enabling him to ask for the order desired after which he moves switch 39 to the in or listen position enabling him to receive the order. By again switching to out position enables him to repeat back or acknowledge the order. Upon receiving an order the concessionaire can write out a slip from which the order is filled and delivered to the car. The intercommunication part of the transaction oi? course will take very little time after which the concessionaire pulls out or withdraws plug 65 for use in answering the next signal for an order.

Withdrawal of plug 65 causes strip I2 to assume its normal position which is that it will first 'engage contact 14 closing the signal light circuit through resistor I5. This causes a diminished voltage to be placed on the car speaker coil 63 and solenoid I32. The voltage that is allowed to pass through resistor I5 is not sufliciently great as to damage the speaker coil 63 but is sufiicient to close contactor I34 with contact I39. With the solenoid switch I32 closed current will flow through electromagnet coil I38 in parallel with the speaker coil 63. Further removal of plug 65 allows blade 72 to bridge contacts 13 and I4 shorting out the resistor 15. The transmission of current sufficient to operate the electromagnet' I38 is then efiected so as to pull magnetically sensitive contactor I22 into engagement with contact I37. Contactor I22 is slidably mounted on arm In so that it remains in contact with contact'Ii-H until arm I I7 is pulled past its center point where it will be toggled to full movement by spring I29. Full movement of arm Ill places contactor I22 in engagement with contact I31 so as to put the car speaker I! back on the sound track circuit.

Breaking of the circuit to coil I32 opens contacts I34 and I39 to disconnect the shunt circuit efiected during the intercommunication operation.

While I have described in detail the operation of my system as connected to one car speaker unit it is to be understood that the same descriptive matter applies to the other units and equipment connected forming component parts of the complete system of this invention. Furthermore inasmuch as the different applications of my system will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art it is intended that the circuit shown he illustrative and need not be limited to the exact system described.

Thusly I do not mean to confine myself to the exact detail of construction and materials herein described and disclosed but claim all variations falling within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a system of the type described, the combination of a central station signal panel, a plurality of remote stations, a speaker unit at each of said remote stations, a communication circuit including a sound source connected between said central station and sound circuit each of said speaker units, a signal circuit including held signal means extending from each of said remote stations to said central panel, a control switch in said signal circuit having relay means operative by said control switch to effect said held signal at said central station with said sound circuit in operation, a talking and receiving unit at said central station having switch means for connecting said unit with a signaling station, and a disconnect switch means having a resistor connected in said signal circuit to effect release of said relay for automatic disconnection of the signal circuit, when said switch is opened.

2. In a system of the type described, the combination of a remote station speaker unit connected to a central station by means of a sound circuit, a source of sound, a signal panel having signal indicating means, a signal circuit normally open between said remote station and said panel, a source of power in said signal circuit, a magnetic sensitive switch in said signal circuit, means to energize said switch to move said switch to an energized hold position to effect a held signal at said panel, a talking and receiving intercommunication unit, said means to energize said switch comprising a switch plug for connection of said intercommunication unit into said signal circuit and disconnection of said power source, a relay switch respectively connecting said speaker with the sound circuit and the signal circuit in response to a surge of power on reconnection of said power source by withdrawal of said plug from said signal circuit, and resistance means for limiting said surge of power.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,463,339 Wetzel et al Mar. 1, 1949 2,522,930 Chakins Sept. 19, 1950 2,529,425 Sharp Nov. 7, 1950 2,549,676 Dunn Let al Apr. 17, 1951 2,557,408 Brady June 19, 1951 2,598,343 Brady May 27, 1952 

